The world of sports and politics often intersect, and India is no exception. Following Mohammad Azharuddin’s recent induction into the Telangana cabinet, he becomes the second prominent cricketer to serve as a minister in a Congress-led government, the first being Navjot Singh Sidhu. This trend isn’t limited to one party; the BJP and Trinamool Congress have also successfully brought cricketers into the political arena, appointing them as MPs and even ministers.
Mohammad Azharuddin, a former captain, began his political career with the Congress party, successfully becoming a Lok Sabha member from Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh, in 2009. Though he faced electoral defeat in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections and later in the Jubilee Hills Assembly polls in November 2023, his political journey continued. He was appointed working president of the Congress party in Telangana in November 2023 and was later nominated as a Member of the Legislative Council (MLC) under the Governor’s quota by the Telangana government in August, though his appointment is still awaiting the Governor’s final approval.
Navjot Singh Sidhu, another celebrated former Indian opener, also made a significant political move. He initially joined the BJP, but later switched to the Congress, eventually becoming a minister in Punjab’s cabinet in 2017 under Chief Minister Amarinder Singh. While he has been less active in party affairs recently and was defeated in the 2022 Punjab Assembly polls, Sidhu has previously served as a Lok Sabha member (elected in 2004) and a Rajya Sabha member (in 2016 from BJP).
Beyond Azharuddin and Sidhu, several other cricketers have ventured into politics, choosing different party affiliations. Kirti Azad, who was elected to the Lok Sabha multiple times, began his political career with the BJP but now represents the Bardhaman-Durgapur Lok Sabha seat for the Trinamool Congress. Gautam Gambhir also joined the BJP, was elected to the Lok Sabha in 2019, and is now the head coach for the Indian men’s cricket team. Manoj Tiwary, another former cricketer, joined the Trinamool Congress and currently serves as the Minister of State for Youth Services and Sports in the West Bengal government. Chetan Chauhan, a two-time BJP MP and former minister in the Uttar Pradesh cabinet, sadly passed away during the COVID-19 pandemic.
These transitions highlight a recurring pattern where political parties leverage the popularity and recognition of cricketers to connect with voters, illustrating the diverse paths former athletes take into public service.